The Crenshaw High football team, once one of Los Angeles’ signature programs, will not play its first City Section 1 Division 1 playoff round Friday against South East because it does not have enough eligible players, according to the district. …
Southeast goes to the quarterfinals.
Five-time City champion Crenshaw started the season with 14 players, increased the squad to 29 and played seven games, ending the season 4-3. be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Football teams must have at least 18 fully vaccinated players.
As of last Friday, school officials said only 13 players were fully vaccinated. Crenshaw trained on Monday and Tuesday. Crenshaw coach Robert Garrett said he was informed on Tuesday night that the Cougars did not have enough players to continue playing under the LAUSD mandate.
“They knew last week that I would not have 18 children,” Garrett said. “I played 15 children. The rest of the children are there, so they won’t be outside. They are needed for social and emotional development. “
Garrett, head coach since 1988, criticized the city’s new playoff format, which put his team in the first division using computer rankings despite having fewer than 500 students.
“I don’t even have a JV,” he said. “I don’t recruit or look for children. This must be stopped. This is not the best system. “
